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If you’re a hardcore follower of the U.S. youth teams, you probably know about Alex Mendez already. If not, he’s someone you’re going to want to keep an eye on. The LA Galaxy academy product won the Golden Ball at last year’s Concacaf U-20 Championship and then signed with Bundesliga club SC Freiburg.
As most young players do when they first go over to Europe, Mendez has begun his time in Germany with the club’s U-19 side. He made his debut in February, slowly working his way into the mix. Finally, on Saturday, he found the back of the net for the first time. And what a goal it was:
Alex Mendez's goals from yesterday.
— Scuffed (@zlebmada) April 7, 2019
NBD just a 35-yard banger. pic.twitter.com/AoEOeNVU3i
An absolute banger, as the kids say.
And then he scored again:
And an emphatic finish from a tight angle on a ball over the top. pic.twitter.com/TdiCiNphW1
— Scuffed (@zlebmada) April 7, 2019
A great and confident finish.
It’s moments like these that helped him be named the 2018 U.S. Soccer Young Male Player of the Year. It’s also these types of highlight reel exploits that have people hopping on the hype train left and right.
This summer should see Mendez be a focal point of the U-20 team taking part in the World Cup. If these two goals don’t get you excited to watch him and the host of talented young players Tab Ramos has to select from, then nothing will.